HTML What's up with html games?

[Purple Lilith]

Hi everyone, <3
I have a very curious question to ask you all...Is it that easy to develop "html" games and become rich?
I am a web developer myself, I know html, css, javascript, etc but I never thought that I can consider myself a game developer knowing only these skills.
I see a lot of " CREATORS" creating "GAMES" using text and image gifs (let's now talk about the quality), but I see that they have lots of followers. I don't envy them, but I have questions...
Can I legit create income based on someone else's content?
I have lots of ideas for game scenarios, but am I allowed to use pornographic images from the internet? Do I need a permission from the model or the actor first?
Help me understand please! From the legal point.
I am capable to create a good game that has a clean and user-friendly interface, a good story and of course the best references (gifs, images and videos). But I'm skeptical, is it legit?

 

[peterppp]

I have lots of ideas for game scenarios, but am I allowed to use pornographic images from the internet? Do I need a permission from the model or the actor first?
Help me understand please! From the legal point.

legally you would need permission but no one cares, that's why all these real porn games exist

 

[GNVE]

Hi everyone, <3
I have a very curious question to ask you all...Is it that easy to develop "html" games and become rich?

It's really easy to develop as most use Twine as the platform. So not that much skill needed (try looking under the hood and you'll see how similar they actually are).
Making money is a whole different ball game. Most don't make money and a lot don't even try.

Can I legit create income based on someone else's content?

No. While (very) unlikely you can get sued for a lot of money plus having to hire a pricey lawyer.

I have lots of ideas for game scenarios, but am I allowed to use pornographic images from the internet? Do I need a permission from the model or the actor first?

Yes you'd need some sort of licencing agreement with the rightsholder for the images you use and a separate agreement with the model for using their likeness (if they aren't one and the same) if you'd want to do it fully legal.
You could use Daz if you want to be in the clear.

 

[Girm Ork]

If you make an ordinal visual novel or sandbox game, your HTML game will probably be worse than the same game made with RenPy or even RPG Maker XP.
Hit games like Degrees of Lewdity and Corrupted Saviours are successful because they have unique mechanics and lots of creative content. Nobody loves them for their user experience or graphical quality.

Also, Patreon moderators are too lazy and don't usually read text games, they just check images. So the text content of HTML games is pretty wild. This is why some players prefer text games to similar visual novels with hundreds of DAZ renders.

 

[GNVE]

Also, Patreon moderators are too lazy and don't usually read text games, they just check images.

Probably more like (idiotic) KPI's so they don't have time for more than a cursory glance before needing to go on to the next one. You get what you don't pay for you know...

 

[Brosewood]

Hi everyone, <3
I have a very curious question to ask you all...Is it that easy to develop "html" games and become rich?

Easy to develop? Kind of. I think people expect more out of HTML games than Ren'py games. People are relatively fine with linear VNs, but the perception that HTML games are lower quality means that they 'should' compensate with more game mechanics.

Easy to make lots of money? Absolutely fucking not. If you're doing any sort of indie game development, do not count on making good money. The kind of HTML games that really take off (Female Agent, Degrees of Lewdity, Course of Temptation) have lots of detail to them.

If you're not in this for the love of the game, you're gonna have a bad time (and most likely a short one).

I see a lot of " CREATORS" creating "GAMES" using text and image gifs (let's now talk about the quality), but I see that they have lots of followers. I don't envy them, but I have questions...
Can I legit create income based on someone else's content?
I have lots of ideas for game scenarios, but am I allowed to use pornographic images from the internet? Do I need a permission from the model or the actor first?
Help me understand please! From the legal point.
I am capable to create a good game that has a clean and user-friendly interface, a good story and of course the best references (gifs, images and videos). But I'm skeptical, is it legit?

If you're using real images, you'd always be one bad day away from getting banned, and it seems like Patreon is really tightening down on the use of real porn. Of course there are people who get away with it, but I'd rather not have that pressure on me.

 

[Project Fortuna Dev]

I feel it depends on how you define things, on this site a "game" is any thing thats interactive, as such visual novels, and kinetic novels (which are well suited to html) count, ive played a few in the past, but they have always been to text heavy (and as you mentioned low quality). but the market is as such if you can produce anything with high quality people will flock to it.

The short answer to is it legit? it depends, no is the answer for nearly any html game around here as they are full of copyrighted images they dont have permission to use, its rare for these sites (or authors) to chase you down , but it can happen, and the more popular your game the more likely they are to notice. most of the big html games (and qsp are Russian based (not sure if something protects them there or its just a coincidence.

The market is flooded with games now, and there are alot of older ones with tonnes of content, so i wouldnt expect to make any real money from it, at least until you prove your dedicated with plenty of good releases and get a good following.